The winged wonder

The wing has finally been introduced to the boat. This comes at the end of a job list full of details each of which is just as important as the big stuff. We have grabbed shed space when it is available but carried out most of the work in the SAILROCKET container at the Sailing Academy.Putting the rig on the boat two day ago really completed the picture. This is something we have never seen before except in early computer renditions and now here it is complete in detail, full sized in the flesh. I really had to force myself out of the shed at the end of the day as I could have just stared for hours.

Chris who designed the wing summed it up best when he commented that previously the boat had looked like a hybrid. Now it looks like it is up to the job it set out to do.
Raising the wing inside the shed was a tricky endeavour. It is much easier when the wind is blowing it up. I was fully aware that one slip up would result in unthinkable damage. We were extremely cautious.



The whole process of raising and lowering the rig for the first time left me with one certain impression. We have the right tool for the job but for it to succeed we must have control from the second it leaves the container to the second it rolls back in. Every scenario must be thought of and considered. This thing is going to go like its namesake very bloody quickly when we turn it onto the wind. We don’t have the money or time to build backups or do major rebuilds. A silly mistake now should not be put down to learning as we are experienced enough to be smarter than that. We have done 58 runs with the soft rig and know how to handle the boat but the wing is a new beast. Every procedure from carrying to installing on the boat, raising and lowering and especially towing back up the course must be as well thought out as any ‘on course’ aspect of the boat. That is what we will focus on next week. No big jobs but the end result must be practical and reliable and these solutions usually aren’t cobbled together with a couple of pieces of wood and some hay band. We have come too far to throw it away in a moment of eagerness.

So have a look at the pics. She just looks right… and she will be. Today was a perfect day for sailing and we pray that there will be many others before the weather fully shuts down on us.
Fear not, you will all be well warned before our first day on the water.
Cheers, Paul.



This is the angle that the rig will lie at when it is coming back up the course. We must build a cradle that locks it solidly in this position so that it can handle a lot of wind from all directions. It must be carried in the small RIB between runs and be easily fixed on.

Lowering the rig down from the balcony late at night on eve of Weymouth SpeedWeek. Very tempting to use the big overhead crane but alas… security cameras.



Leaving the VESTAS shed in Woolston for the last time…until next time. The whole project owes them a huge debt. We couldn’t have wished for better hosts. Thanks.



Malcolm, moi and Chris. Designwise, the wing is Chris’ baby and he and the boys at AEROTROPE have computer modelled and analysed every aspect of its construction.



Although the SAILROCKET design team have total faith in the boat…every speed week they still perform an unusual pagan ritual on top of Chesil Beach to honour the gods of the Sou’Westerly wind. Can’t hurt… but then again at 50 knots, maybe it can!!!